At 9 a.m yesterday, A-Gent of Style arrived at the doors of the BADA Antiques and Fine Art Fair to attend the press preview before it opened to the public at 11 a.m. Returning to its favourite location until 24 March at the Duke of York Square, off Sloane Square, London SW3, this year’s fair, the 23rd annual edition, did not disappoint. On the contrary, it seemed like it surpassed itself once again

Housed in a purpose-built pavilion, the range of objects for sale ranging from various disciplines such as art, furniture and paintings to clocks, ceramics, silver, jewellery, rugs and much more from 16th century works of art to contemporary furniture is the place for collectors and also first-time buyers to buy antiques and fine art from Britain’s most renowned experts. Everything for sale is vetted for quality and authenticity and all exhibitors are members of the Association. The BADA fair is famed for its elegant design and spacious layout, providing a stunning setting for the beautiful works for sale for everyone from the first time buyer to the seasoned collector, with prices ranging from £100 to six figure sums.

Here are A-Gent of Style‘s highlights, favourite picks and some of the stunning vignettes that caught his attention and dazzled him as he browsed the fair for a couple of hours in the blissfully quiet and peaceful environment before the impressive queue of antiques admirers and collectors were let in.

When A-Gent of Style started working for Veere Grenney a few years ago, the learned decorator told him one day as they were sourcing lamps together that “this lamp was one of the most iconic lamps of the 20th century. Make sure you know it”. Ignorant and arrogant, A-Gent immediately disregarded his master’s pronouncement, probably with a with the raise of an eyebrow, as he had never seen this lighting fixture before, and carried on looking at other lamps.

by David Collins Studio

Within a few weeks of flicking through magazines, books, auction catalogues and online searches, it turned out that “this lamp” was everywhere to be seen, ubiquitous and almost omnipresent in many photos of inspiring interiors, and also that vintage, original versions of this lamp were the prized objects of many collectors, antique dealers and auction houses. Needless to say A-Gent of Style learned a lesson of humility that day.

1UWV is the real name of “that lamp” which was created in 1966 by American designer Cedric Hartman. It was an instant hit and it has now reached iconic status. As it is very much the case with design classics, the 1UWV floor lamp is the masterful result of simplicity, purity and functionality.

It is an all metallic slim tubular floor lamp with a rectangular counterweight base, triangular shade, spherical dimmer, adjustable height and directional light that disappears in the background, that very often unpretentiously and discreetly peeks over the back of an armchair, a chaise longue or a sofa. At the time of its creation, the look of 1UWV and its down lighting were quite revolutionary, and the antithesis then of the more fashionable fringy, chintzy lampshades with their heavy bases that casted an ambient glow rather than a focalised floodlight.

The architectural yet elegant object nowadays comes in different finishes such as stainless steel, aluminium, nickel-plated, metal gun but the most famous finish (and chicest I think) is in brass. Over his illustrious career, the 85-year-old Hartman has designed and developed other models of lights as well as furniture such as tables, chairs and sofas but the 1UWV lamp is still is best-known work. Two of his lamps have permanent resident at MOMA in New York. Unlike his masterpiece, Hartman has always shied away from the limelight but he is still working today on new prototypes, LEDs in particular.

Here is a selection of images of 1UWV, its creator and their appearances in striking interiors over the decades. Can you spot them all??

by Douglas Mackie

House in London by Veere Grenney in the 1980s that had been built for film director Richard Lester in the 1960s and decorated by David Hicks

by Michael S.Smith

Bear-Hill Interiors

by Douglas Mackie

By Rita Konig

The Manhattan living room of Stanley Barrows

by Dering Hall via randyhellerdesign instagram

by Mario Buatta

by Pamplemousse Design

by Douglas Mackie

by Francois Catroux

By Nate Berkus

by Michael S.Smith

The Eickes’ store, Sag Harbor

by Sasha Bikoff

by Jacques Grange

by Peter Dunham

Markham Roberts

by Melissa Rufty. Photo by Francois Halard courtesy of The New York Times

Over the last couple of years, A-Gent of Style has covered many a sale specialising on 20th C design on this blog, and the relevance and importance today of this speciality is showing no sign of dwindling. On the contrary.

So when you think the auction design market could not get anymore saturated with antique and vintage pieces, cometh a new (-ish) player on the scene who comes up trump with new acquisitions and collectibles.

Enters Paris-based auction house Piasa Auctions who is currently dedicating a sale and accompanying exhibiton in its Left Bank space to an important selection of objets by Scandinavian masters in dialogue with equally iconic American and Brazilian designers. This group of architects and designers frequently collaborated and merged the modernist vernacular popular in Europe and the USA with traditional Brazilian techniques and indigenous materials such as rosewood.

After considerable success in 2013 and 2014, this evening’s sale will be Piasa’s fifth in this genre and will be grouped under 294 different lots showcasing a selection of sought-after pieces with a pre-estimate of 1.5 million euros.

Piasa will concurrently offer a large section of the sale focusing on 40 important pieces by Axel Salto with important private provenance such as Raf Simon’s private collection.

In preparation for the imminent and eminent sale, A-Gent of Style spoke to Cédric Morisset, Head of the Design Department at Piasa.

Why the timing of this sale? why is it relevant today?

We anticipate the general international auction schedule. It is important for us to open the new season.

What do you attribute the importance and relevance of these designers to today?

Scandinavian design can be seen as the most looked-after design by high level collectors. Brazilian and American design are the next big thing according to me, although the rarity of Brazilian design doesn’t allow the market to bloom. I have more hopes on American design by Paul Laszlo, Paul Frankl, Paul Evans, G. Nakashima,T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings etc…

Is there a mix of provenance? do the pieces come from private collectors, antique dealers, museums?

It’s always a mix of provenances. Always a lot of private collectors.

Is there a common denominator between these designers and these pieces?

There are a lot of historical and style connections between Brazilian, American and Scandinavian design. A few examples: a lot of Scandinavian designers have worked in the USA (Eero Saarinen for instance for Herman Miller). Also, most of the Brazilian designers were migrants coming from Europe and inspired by the Scandinavian taste that they have adapted to local materials and workshops. Finally, most of the Danish and Swedish designers were using a lot of precious Brazilian woods such as rosewood.

What makes a piece ‘timeless’ or ‘iconic’?

It’s a tough question to answer, but a ‘design classic’ is a manufactured object with timeless aesthetic value. It serves as a standard of its kind and, despite the year in which it was designed, is still up to date. What makes it timeless is its innovation, its simple elegant shapes, balanced and pure. Maybe also its perfect conception.

Are there any pieces in the sale that are rare and that have not been ‘seen’ in any sale in a long time?

Several vases by Axel Salto, rare and unseen, notably big with a beautiful enamel. Also a fantastic desk by Larsen and Bender Madsen (lot 83), only piece of this time known so far. A rare Hans Wegner “Crocodile” cabinet produced to a few copies only.

Which pieces do you think will generate the most interest and why?

Probably all the Axel Salto pieces. Because gathering such a collection is really hard and the quality is exceptional.